Seven years is a long time to wait between albums. But then Southern
gospel star Candy
Christmas, previously known as Candy Hemphill, has good reasons
for the long delay before releasing her 'On The Other Side' album.
"The way I think of it is that in Michigan, when they're building a
new car model, they shut down all assembly lines and send everyone
home. They don't just start adding new parts to an old model. They
shut down and retool. God has been retooling me. I knew in my heart I
didn't have anything pertinent to say until now. Rather than just
crank out a project, I wanted to do something fresh and different and
let my music reflect what's going on in my life."

What has been going on in Candy's life is The Bridge Ministry - named
for its location under the Jefferson Bridge in Nashville. The Bridge
is now a thriving ministry which includes a weekly church service on
Tuesday nights to feed and preach to up to 500 homeless people. Other
local churches and ministries (including the Salvation Army) also
reach out to these homeless. Some of those organizations use The
Bridge's 20,000 square-foot warehouse - a resource hub for nonprofits
- which is stocked with dry goods, toiletries and coats to pass out to
the needy for the winter.

The ministry began in 2004 after Candy took a pot of jambalaya to a
group of homeless people on a visit with a local pastor. She was
battling depression at the time. She told Christianity Today, "I had
lost my appetite. I couldn't eat. I was 100 pounds. Then when I got
there [to the bridge], it was like something came alive in me that was
dead - something that was lacking." So she kept returning to the same
spot, always a pot of jambalaya in hand. It eventually grew to a group
of volunteers and ultimately a weekly worship service and ministry
that functions much like a local church.

Born Carmel Hemphill in Bastrop, Louisiana in 1961, she was a
third-generation member of Southern gospel royalty. The Happy Goodman
Family were her grandparents while at the age of 13 Candy joined The
Hemphills, the legendary family group founded by her parents Joel and
LaBreeska Hemphill. Said Candy about her early years, "I was born into
a record deal. It's just what I did. If I didn't join in, I would be
home and the bus rolled on without me."

Candy travelled full-time with The Hemphills for 18 years during which
time the group won six Dove Awards and Joel was nominated 10 times by
GMA for Songwriter Of The Year for such Southern gospel classics as
"He's Still Workin' On Me", "Every Need Supplied" and "Master Of The
Wind". In 1990 the group decided to retire and Candy began to travel
with her evangelist husband Kent Christmas. Candy's solo debut was
1983's 'Candy Hemphill' for Heartwarming Records. A review in CCM
magazine reported, "'Candy Hemphill' may be best appreciated by
Southern gospel purists, not by listeners weaned on rock'n'roll." Her
second album, 'Heart Of Fire', for Impact Records was a greater
success with CCM reporting that it "alternates between uptempo and
easy listening" while her next album 'Arms Of Love' (Greentree) was
her most pop orientated project.

The Hemphills

In 1988 Candy joined Heirloom, a trio of country gospel singers in an
imitation of the successful trio of Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and
Emmylou Harris who were hitting big in mainstream country. The other
Heirloom members were Tanya Goodman-Sykes who, like Candy, had years
of Southern gospel experience with The Happy Goodman Family, and Sheri
Easter (who left Heirloom after a year and went on to find success
with her husband Jeff Easter). Sheri's replacement in Heirloom was the
Canadian-born country singer Barbara Fairchild who had once enjoyed a
Top 10 mainstream country hit in 1973 with "Teddy Bear Song". Heirloom
never achieved the breakthrough in either the mainstream or the CCM
market though the first album by the group 'Heirloom' produced the
single "There's Still Power In The Blood" which did well in the
Southern Gospel charts. More Heirloom albums for Benson, 'Apples Of
Gold' (1990), 'Uncommon Love' (1991), 'The Best Of Heirloom' (1993)
and 'Hymns That Last Forever' (1995) followed. Tanya Goodman-Sykes
remembered the Heirloom days fondly. She told CCM magazine, "We could
never pass a mall without stopping and we always got lost on the road;
basically every female stereotype you could imagine. It was lots of
fun for awhile."

In 1995 Bill Gaither called Candy asking her to come and sing with the
reunited Hemphill Family for Bill & Gloria Gaither's Homecoming
Friends' 'Let's Have A Revival' video and a year later Candy was asked
to be part of the Gaither concert series. In 1997 Candy returned to
her solo career recording the 'Fully Alive' album as Candy Christmas and in
1999 made 'No Turning Back'. At the time of the latter's release she
told The Gospel Voice magazine, "I'm not a frustrated country singer
or a frustrated rock'n'roll singer. I'm a gospel singer. It's the
Gospel set to music. I take this calling very seriously. I was raised
in church and so many times we take God for granted. The there came a
time in my life that I knew that I needed a personal relationship with
God. He's not a lifestyle - he's a friend."

Another album, 'Watch Over Me', was released in 2003. Yet despite a
supportive husband and the joy Candy found in bringing up her children
Jasmine (today aged 21) and Nicholas (16), Candy began to suffer from
ever increasing bouts of depression. Then in 2004 came a fresh
challenge and ministry which lifted the depression from the
award-winning singer. "I found that serving the poor and homeless gave
me a new sense of purpose. I thought, 'I know how to cook. I'm a
Louisiana girl. I can make jambalaya in a big pot as well as a small
pot.'" With that, she began to feed the poor and homeless. "I realized
that the biggest portion of them had no gloves, socks or coats. It was
January, so we went to Walmart and Dollar General to buy scarves and
coats. By the next week it began to grow, and it hasn't stopped. Some
nights we'll have 500 people under that bridge."

The Bridge Ministry is now a vital part of the city and much of what
gets her up in the morning. "We feed the attendees at the beginning of
the service," said Candy. "Then we invite them to stay for church
under the bridge. We have sound, lights and chairs and we have a
worship service. At the end of the evening, we give away brand new
clothing, toiletries, groceries and a bicycle. Those who stay until
after church are loaded up with stuff. It fills our hearts. There is
no joy like walking away from the bridge and seeing these people with
so much stuff they can hardly carry it. They often bring their friends
with them the next week."

Candy also founded the Food For Kids programme. Volunteers go every
Friday and fill backpacks for underprivileged children in the
Nashville area who are on free or assisted meal programmes. "I have a
purpose. 36,000 snacks to school children last year!" she exclaimed
with a glowing smile. "We get permission from parents to send grocery
bags of snacks home for the weekend and they love it! On Mother's Day,
the children were able to take jewelry and make-up items home to their
moms. It enabled them to give something special to their mothers on
this significant day."

Continued Candy, "I have found purpose - to help the poor and take
care of people who can't help themselves. I want to share the mercy
God has put in my heart for people who have fallen on hard times and
to express my love for them. I don't care if you're rich or poor, no
one can resist love. We go in with no agenda, only with love, saying,
'We're not trying to sell you anything.' I don't care if they're
prostitutes, addicts, whatever. . . I just want to love people into
the Kingdom of God."

That desire has resulted in 'On The Other Side', Candy's first album
in seven years. Speaking about the album the singer said, "I wanted to
get my message out - to stand on the rooftop and yell, 'Help me help
these people!'" The lyrics found on the album, which was produced by
Robb Tripp, are words Candy has already taken from the studio to the
street over the past decade. One of the songs she recorded is the
popular tune "Orphans Of God" which she made her own with an honest
and organic approach, indicative of the streets on which she serves.

She also re-recorded The Hemphills' ballad "Could I Wish", produced
this time with a more "rootsy" approach and stripped-down style. She
commented, "I was going for honesty. I'm not much of a fluff person
anymore, after time under the bridge with helpless people scratching
for survival and starving to death. You can feel that in some of the
album's production and tone. I think when I first recorded this song,
I was still wishing for 'mansions' as an up-and-coming artist. That's
what success was back then. I understood the words as much as I could,
but 'could I wish an easy life for me?' Yes, I could still wish. As
all of us mature as Christians and as Christ is formed in us, the more
we're going to have compassion and learn to love others, not because
of their status in life but because of God's love in us."

That love is celebrated in songs like "Since I Laid My Burdens Down",
a song she sang in church as a little girl, and "Jesus On The
Mainline", which the singer has slowed down with a more relaxed
groove. "Climbing Up The Mountain" is a foot-stompin', black
gospel-oriented tune while "Troubles Of This World" offers a soulful,
R&B tinge from Candy. The song "Can You See The Clock" is dear to
the singer and is a message she proclaims weekly.

"We had a guy at The Bridge who wanted someone to hear his confession.
'I can't sleep,' he said, 'I can't live with myself.' Another man, who
has been coming for six years, is the drunkest person I've ever met.
He sits on the front row and weeps and sobs. He comes to prayer every
week and can't forgive himself for things he has done. I can't be
their judge. I think there's a special place in God's heart for people
like that - truly sorry and repentant. My job is to feed them, showing
them the love of Jesus. If they stay long enough I tell them, 'Jesus
is the answer.' I can see fruits of my labours under the bridge.
Sometimes God will give me a little view of a changed life. That is a
real treasure."

When she's not proclaiming this message to the inner-city's needy,
Candy often travels around the country, speaking and singing in
churches and at women's events. "I'll tell you this: I'm not depressed
anymore. I made a decision. All of my life I'd been taught the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, and I came to a place where I thought, 'Either it
works or it doesn't,' so I started The Bridge Ministry. God has given
me a grace and a mercy for people who can't help themselves. "They
don't care if you're singing gospel music. They don't care if you're
too country, too pop, whatever. Homeless people don't care what brand
you are. They say, 'I'm dying of cocaine. Can you help me? The Gospel
you're singing about, will it work for me?' God's Word says, 'Blessed
is he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness; he shall be
filled.'"

The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.

About Tony Cummings

Tony Cummings is the music editor for Cross Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.

My husband and I met you and your family years ago at a Jim
and Tammy 4th of July Celebration (PTL)Then later my mother
and I met spoke with you in Gatlinbury or Pigeon Forge,
Tennessee. A friend of mine gave me a book titled
"Lebraska". I see you quite often on the Bill Gaithersburg
Gospel Singing. I love your new hair style.

Thirty years ago, I was in a beauty shop next door to a
reseraunt and the Hemphill bus pulled in. All stepped out,
my daughter (4-5) seen you went to jumping and screaming
because of you. Because there was food next door, you came
to me and asked if she could eat with you. She had little
zipper pockets on her tennis-shoes so you or some of you
had put pennies or dimes in those little pockets. She
literally wore out "He'S 'Still Workiing on Me," Then a
little later :"Master of the Wind."

I have surely missed you. Such a pretty face and an equally
beautiful Spirit. I am so excited about your new ministry
and I am eager to read the book. God bless you and your new
life. May you succeed beyond your wildest dreams!

Candy
I have watched and listened to you . I missed seeing you on
the Gaithers .I know why now. I am so glad you spoke out
about depression. I have gone and am still going through
it. i took don't want medications. I love how you pulled
yourself out of it and I wish I had your strength. I have
had the same thought as you . God bless you and all you do
foreveryone. I love to viist your minisityr under the
bridge. God bless Keep up all the good work.

Thank you Candy for doing this ministry. I have been
homeless-sleeping in my car-yet had a part time store job
that doesn't pay enough for rent. I know Jesus and He helps
me. I just don't have a lot of skills to offer employers.
But now God has a call on my life--to be a veterinarian. I
finally know what I'm good at, taking care of animals God
made. I'm out of work right now and need another auto. I go
to a food pantry and get food stamps. Poor need help Candy.
Thanks for caring and wanting to help.

Hello Candy, God has brought your book and a number of
other sources re helping the homeless to me recently.
(Really a flood of things) I am pretty certain He will have
me to see you 'under the bridge'....perhaps this summer.
With much love, and thanks to God for you, Maxine

What a blessing to hear the good report and such a witness
and confirmation to us! ! Go ye into the hiways and hedges [
that covers bridges too !!! ]
We appreciate you and Bro.Kent and Love Ya'll in Christ
Jesus! See ya soon under the bridge!
God Bless,
Bro.Lloyd and Ellis